After a series of countrywide auditions, 12 young
dancers gain entry to the American Ballet Academy (which is loosely based on the
School of American Ballet), the affiliate school of the fictional American Ballet Company. Jody Sawyer is selected for the ABA, despite her “bad feet” and poor turnout, because of her clear passion for and dedication to ballet. She soon meets unfriendly star student Maureen Cummings, whose demanding mother works at the school, and the frank but talented Eva Rodriguez. Jody also befriends three male ballet dancers: handsome new student Charlie Sims, gay Oprah fan Erik "O" Jones and Sergei, a Russian who desperately misses his girlfriend, Galina, in San Francisco. On the first day of class, the students meet Jonathan Reeves, the company's
choreographer and director, who tells the students that at the end of the year, a final dance workshop will determine the three boys and three girls who will be asked to join the company. The workshop will also allow the students to showcase their talent to other ballet companies nationwide. Therefore, a lead part in the workshop is essential to secure a dancer's future. In class, Jody is singled out by instructor Juliette Simone for her bad turnout, while Eva is recognized for her skill as a dancer but nonetheless makes a bad impression with her lack of respect for Jonathan and the faculty. Jody learns that famed ABC dancer Kathleen Donahue is newly married to Jonathan. She had previously been in a long-term relationship with Cooper Nielsen, another star ABC dancer who fled to London in the wake of the scandal and has only just returned to the company. Jody and Eva develop a somewhat tense relationship with Maureen, their roommate, due to her lack of warmth toward Jody as she struggles to prove herself in class and her own arrogant attitude. Maureen is clearly favored by the school's faculty and seems to be a lock for one of the coveted positions in the company. She is also bulimic and pushed hard to succeed by her mother Nancy, who had failed at her own dreams of becoming a ballerina. Maureen meets and falls in love with pre-med student Jim, who shows Maureen what a life without ballet could look like. Jim discovers Maureen's bulimia and expresses deep concern. Outraged, Maureen ends the relationship. After weeks of training relentlessly and receiving guidance from the academy teachers, Jody is told by Jonathan and Juliette that she is not improving and that he cannot cast her in the workshop, meaning she'll have no future in ballet if she stays. Since she has bad feet and also doesn't have the "ideal body type" he encourages her to leave the school. She refuses to give up on her dream and goes to a modern dance class to unwind, where she encounters Cooper. He encourages her to follow her passion for dance and ignore Jonathan's criticisms. They sleep together. Days later, Cooper casts Jody, Charlie and Erik in an original ballet for the workshop. Jody remains infatuated with Cooper despite his clear indifference to her, and he eventually coldly rejects her, leading to tension in rehearsals. Charlie, who has a crush on Jody, presses her to pour her feelings into dancing, leading to a passionate performance that satisfies Cooper. Maureen and Sergei are cast as the leads in Jonathan's ballet for the workshop, while Eva receives a background role and sadly accepts that she'll be unable to make an impression or get a job as a result. During the final rehearsals of Cooper's ballet, which is based on his failed relationship with Kathleen and her affair with Jonathan, Erik is badly injured. Cooper decides to dance the role himself, further inflaming the tensions between him, Jody, and Charlie. Shaken by Erik's injury, Maureen goes to Jim and admits she no longer wants to dance. Eva continues to practice ballet after hours. Juliette, witnessing her dedication, offers her help and Eva accepts. On the night of the workshop, the audience and Sergei are both stunned to see Eva in Maureen's role. Nancy rushes out of the theater and confronts Maureen, who tells her she cannot continue dedicating her own life to her mother's dream. Cooper's ballet is well received. After the performance, Cooper tells Jody that he has found a financial backer to start his own company and invites her to be his
principal dancer. She goes to her interview with Jonathan and Juliette and declines to hear whether they're offering her a position, instead choosing to join Cooper's new company. Eva, to her shock, is offered a place and joyously accepts. Charlie and Erik, despite his injury, receives places at ABA as well. Sergei receives an offer in San Francisco, with his girlfriend. Jody tells Cooper she's joining him and he attempts to rekindle their romance, but Jody rebuffs him in favor of Charlie. Maureen and Eva hug at the workshop reception, friends at last, and Maureen, who has reconciled with Jim, says she isn't yet all right but will be soon. In the closing credits, the dancers are seen rehearsing at their respective dance companies while Maureen begins university classes with Jim and finally makes friends. ==Cast==